dear_mun | on jumping the gun

[At least they had that in common. Any enemy of Ross or Red couldn't be far off from a friend.

Bruce is rather skinny, not at all like his counterpart. It never seems fair to have the two of them stuck together, but Bruce has learned to cope somewhat. Working with the Hulk to help the Avengers.

Bruce kind of shifts his weight a bit, hands in his hoodie pockets as he lets Hulk look him over. His expression flickering sympathy for a moment. It never was comfortable to switch from himself to Hulk, that's something you never forgot.

Realization hits him, his eyes wide. It made too much sense, even if this Hulk was from another reality. So his Bruce was....gone.]

...you've never... [How was he going to ask this?] ...heard voices or anything? [If he was saying that to anyone else, it would feel ridiculous.] You don't change back?

Edited (sorry editing html) 2013-08-29 00:48 (UTC)

[Hulk's eyes track his movements as Bruce fidgets under his stare. This was possibly the strangest encounter he's ever had, and Hulk has seen some crazy shit.]

Voices?

[Hulk raises an eyebrow. Not in a "you're nuts" gesture but more of a "I have no idea what you're talking about" way. Luckily for him, he's never had to share headspace with anyone.]

You mean you can change back?

[Well, Hulk certainly doesn't envy the pain of transformation, but...]

Must be nice, getting to... ~~not be a monster~~ be normal, sometimes.

[Was there a hint of wistfulness in that rumbling voice? You probably just imagined it. Hulk has more or less accepted who and what he is at this point, though. He has to. For his sake and the sake of his team. If he can't accept himself, how can he expect anyone else to?]

[Well. Didn't that put a different spin on it. Bruce almost smirks, a bitter edge to it but a smirk nonetheless.]

Nice isn't a word I'd use for it. Lets just say....we don't get along most of the time. [Bruce has tried to fix what he'd created time and time again. It never worked. And Hulk wasn't crazy about being deleted permanently so he tried to sabotage any efforts Bruce made. So in the end, Bruce tries to find common ground. Which is hard to do with a green angry rage monster.]

We have...an agreement, sort of. {The Avengers didn't even know that in order to convince Hulk to join them, Bruce had to agree to let Hulk be out most of the time.] I missed about two weeks last time it happened.

[Hulk cocks his head to the side. What's all this "we" business? He was Bruce, then he was Hulk. Hulk never gave thought to what it might be like if the before-him and after-him had to exist in the same body and mind. His forehead creases as his eyebrows come together in confusion.]

We?

[And there was a lot of trial and error to get him to the level of cognition he was at now. Hulk had pieces and echos of what it was like before, which is what drove him to learn his own control. He never had Bruce as a moral compass. All he got from Bruce were a few fragmented memories. Most of his knowledge was locked away so far back in his mind that Hulk wasn't even aware it was there. He's been slowly regaining the pieces of himself that he lost, but the likelihood that he would ever again have a "genius" level intellect was low. Which he was okay with. He was no longer the man who made bombs. He had a family now, one he wouldn't give up for anything. As far as Hulk was concerned, his life was pretty good. Bruce, on the other hand, seemed to be less content with the hand he'd been dealt.]

The Hulk...and me.

[Obviously this was not himself talking to him. Bruce had figured that much out.]

When I get angry and lose control, I change. When Hulk is done or tired out, he switches back to me. [And Bruce usually has a long nap. It's tiring being the Hulk.] But I guess that's not the way it is for you?

[Hulk listened intently. Well. That must suck. Hulk wondered if this Bruce's Hulk was like him, in the beginning. If only anger and a loss of control brought him out... Hulk knows how dangerous he could get if he didn't keep his own anger in check. Hulk doesn't have the luxury of blaming the violence and the destruction he's caused on someone else. It's all him. But Bruce's breathing exercises from before... that's what he was doing. Keeping Hulk from coming out. Hulk can't decide who he pities more, this Bruce or his Hulk. That's... like living only half a life. Hulk shakes his head.]

No. It's just me. I remember being you, though. Or... me. Bruce. Bits and pieces. Stuff like taking car trips with my cousin Jen when we were kids. That kinda stuff.

[Hulk shrugs. He doesn't think about the past much. The majority of it isn't pleasant, and he's got enough problems as it is in his present.]

Don't really think about it much.

[He gets the feeling that Bruce would understand that sentiment. But he can't help but be curious about the counterpart he hasn't met.]

Your Hulk. What's he like?

[Bruce is quiet, emotionally struck by the fact that even if he was dead, Hulk still remembered him. It's not something he thought would ever happen, should it ever be possible that he did kick the bucket. He's hesitant to ask....]

And...Betty? [Elizabeth Ross, who he hadn't seen since the incident.]

[Bruce coughs, shifting his weight, really wishing he could avoid that kind of question.] He's...difficult. [Probably the nicest way he could put it.]

Betty?

[Hulk cocks his head to the side. If there were ever any memories of Betty, he can't access them.]

Met a Betty here. Said she was... my wife, in her world. Or, used to be.

[Hulk still can't quite wrap his head around that one. Him. Married. Hulk shakes his head.]

Difficult? I bet.

[Hulk snorts, amused.]

What's with the fidgeting? You embarrassed or something?

[asldf;...okay, he's not going to touch that subject. Married to Betty? He would have a hard time accepting that as well.

Moving on...]

No.

Just not used to talking to you like this.

[Hulk raises his arms in a gesture of surrender. Strange, how the tables have turned from the beginning of this conversation.]

No need to get all defensive about it.

[He might be teasing, just a little bit. Hulk's tired of all this heavy conversation, it's tiresome.]

Not much of a talker?

[A half smile. Yeah, Hulk telling Bruce not to get defensive? That's pretty ironic. Not that Bruce is afraid to take on Hulk if he had to, but really he wouldn't last five seconds without his own alter ego.]

I guess not.

[a beat]

Pick a subject. [Hulk wants to talk, who's he to say otherwise?]

[Hulk huffs a little, though he's not displeased. He leans forward and reaches out to poke Bruce lightly in the chest, as long as he doesn't flinch too much or duck out of the way.]

We had a subject. Your Hulk.

[Hulk has no idea how the talking to someone in your head works but he's curious. It could have happened to him. He wants to know why Bruce is so tight lipped about it. How bad could his Hulk be?]

[Ow.]

Hey!

[That was a bit annoying.]

He's not in right now, try again later. [Bruce snarks back, being stubborn about it. It's not often he gets much time as himself. He'll take a step back too.] And quit poking.

That didn't hurt. Wimp.

And when is later supposed to be? [Okay, maybe his tone is a little bit petulant. Come onnn, Bruce. Hulk wants to knowwww.]

You can tell me. What's the saying? If you can't trust yourself...

[Hulk reluctantly pulls back, respecting Bruce's request. Hulk was a rather tactile person, but there was no need to overly antagonize the guy.]

He that bad?

Edited 2013-08-31 05:53 (UTC)

[He probably never should have started talking with this guy. This Hulk. Whatever. Now Bruce finds it hard to stop once he gets going, still plenty annoyed.]

You can't talk, you're not me anymore. You don't know what it's like to lose days or weeks and wake up who knows where or captured and strung up in a cage...

[Bruce, you really should watch your blood pressure there. Or maybe he should just get this out of his system while he still can.]

Just leave me alone, okay?

[Hulk jerks a little at his outburst, taken aback. The camaraderie Hulk felt like they were just starting to build shattered, and maybe Hulk resonated a little too much with Bruce's anger because he had been trying to empathize with him for the past couple minutes. Hulk's heart hardens and his voice grows very cold.]

You done throwing your tantrum yet?

[Hulk pauses for only a moment, not really waiting for Bruce's answer.]

If you think for a second that just because I ain't you that I don't know what it's like to be hunted and--

[Hulk bites back a growl, warming up to the old, familiar anger only too easily. He had to calm down-- if only this little runt weren't so damn stubborn and infuriating-- Hulk opts for scoffing in lieu of a snarl.]

Yeah, because your life as a human who gets to pass by in the street without everyone screaming and running away on sight must be sooo difficult.

[Hulk's vocal volume rises steadily until he bites out the last two words, cutting himself off and taking a harsh, shaky breath through his nose.]

Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I've been working hard to make a life for myself and it looks to me like you've just been stewing in your own self pity and running away from your problems instead of doing anything about your situation.

[His eyes narrow, throwing sarcasm right back at Hulk.]

No, everyone runs at me. With guns and cannons and tranquilizer darts. Everyone wanting a piece of me to experiment with, scuse me for running away from that and keeping everyone from making the same mistake I did!

[Oh dear, he's yelling. His eyes flickering green for a second or two before going back to brown.]

[Hulk sees the green flicker, and it lights a primal fire in his stomach. Something bound up with bloodlust, and the promise of a predatory equal in a territorial challenge. He can't deny it any more, he wants this fight. Hulk gets back up in Bruce's space, face only inches away.]

Let. him. out.

[Bruce grits his teeth, an internal conflict going on that he wasn't sure he wanted to fight against. It was really hard to remember not to be angry...when you were angry.

He turns aside, looking like he's trying to cool down...he can feel Hulk's breath in his ear and wanted nothing more than to...]

[SMASH.

His body rips through his shirt, a transforming green fist shooting out to sock the other Hulk in the face. Hard.]

HULK SMASH!!

[He snarls, leaping at the other green giant to take him down.]

[Hulk's eyes widen in realization right before the fist makes contact and he goes flying a good twenty feet before flipping over and digging his heels into the dirt to stop his momentum. There, you are. Hulk grins and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.]

That's more like it.

[When the other dives at him, he rolls with the other Hulk's momentum and tries to end up on top of the pile. What this Hulk lacks in the raging Hulk's violent strength he makes up in finesse. Hulk attempts to pin the other down, a dangerous grin on his face.]

Good morning, Sunshine!

[Hulk doesn't take being pinned well. Up comes a nearby car that he's gotten a grip on, bashing the other Hulk in the face with it to get him off.]

Thought I was ugly... [He sneers back, getting to his feet and hefting the car in his green hands, ready to toss it.]

[Hulk flinches when the car hits his face, releasing the other and stumbling back, falling into a defensive stance. He grinned tightly at the words. So he speaks, he can't be totally savage then. Maybe Banner was just making him out to be worse than he was before.]

Oh, don't worry, you are.

[He raises a foot before slamming it back down, sending a fissure towards the other Hulk's feet, trying to knock him off balance before he can throw the car.]

So, what's your side of the story?

[He calls it out rather casually, like they were sitting down sharing stories rather than trying to bash each other's heads in.]

[The ground rocks and splits under his feet, causing Hulk to lose his balance, the car flying wild and smashing into a wall instead. He scrambles to get back up and find more ammo. Bending a lamppost over and snapping it like a twig.]

Hulk SMASH! [That enough of a story for you?]

on jumping the gun

pfft nonsense, I am really liking your Hulk AND you do tl;dr which I also love

oh good, i was a little worried I was overdoing it and getting annoying

not at all, I am quite enjoying this :)

me too! I really wasn't expecting so much attention, though! sorry i am slow as shit.

meh, iz allll good :)

sorry it took me two days. again. getting ready for Dragon*Con.

Oooo Dragon*Con nifty

trying to find a parking space in atlanta is probably the most daunting thing i've ever had to face

I'll bet.

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i wanna finish this so bad but im about to fall asleep

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I'm sorry, I dozed off. This is great, though. Even though our Hulks need labels. Hulk 1 and Hulk 2.

heh, yeah there isn't much to distinguish them from each other

mine can be the one with nice pants. capris. whatever.

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